Jade Plants in Bloom: How Often Should You Expect Flowers?
Jade plants (Crassula Ovata) are beautiful succulent plants that are popular worldwide. In this article, I will be answering the question, ‘How often do jade plants bloom?’. You will learn exactly when jade plants bloom, how to make a jade plant bloom, and whether or not all jade plants flower.
Jade plants are also known as the lucky plant or money plant. They are a popular housewarming gift and are due to bring good luck. They have wonderful thick, vibrant, green leaves and come in many different types, such as Gollum jade, Dwarf jade, and Hummel’s Sunset.
The reason jade plants are so popular is that they are very low maintenance and are adaptable to a wide range of environments and living conditions. However, this doesn’t mean you should neglect your succulent plant, otherwise, you’ll end up with a dying jade plant!
Do Jade Plants Flower?
So, do jade plants bloom? The answer to that is, yes, of course! Jade plants are known for their thick, glossy leaves, but they can also flower and produce seed. When a jade plant blossoms, it will bloom with pink or white, star-shaped flowers that grow in clusters. These flowers will first begin as buds.
There are many different factors that go into a flowering jade plant, which I will be discussing below, so don’t be discouraged if you have yet to see these wonderful pink or white blooms.
When Do Jade Plants Bloom?
So often I will hear, ‘My jade plant won’t bloom’. It is a common problem amongst plant owners, and it can be difficult to get a jade plant to bloom.
But before I get on discussing how to make a jade plant bloom, it would be a good idea to understand when jade plants bloom!
If taken care of properly, a jade plant will bloom in the late winter / early spring. However, it is important to note that a jade plant needs to be mature for it to flower. Jade plants will go many, many years without flowering so it will require patience on your end.
Even in its native habitat, a jade plant will need to grow for years before it can flower. When it has reached maturity, then the deciding factor on how often a jade plant blooms will be sunlight.
If you have an indoor jade plant, then it is unlikely to bloom because it won’t be able to get enough natural sunlight it needs to flower. The humidity levels inside a home will also be too much to encourage bloom.
If you have an outdoor jade plant that is mature, then you will be able to make it flower.
How Often Should You Expect Jade Plants to Flowers?
Jade plants, specifically Crassula ovata, rarely bloom when kept indoors. However, under the right conditions, they can produce small, star-shaped white or delicate pink flowers annually during the winter months, typically between late December and February in the northern hemisphere.
Do All Jade Plants Flower?
When given the right environment, most types of jade plants will bloom. However, a Crassula does have to reach maturity before it can flower, and often this can take years.
Indoor jade plants are unlikely to flower.
How to Make Jade Plant Bloom
So, we have discussed the unlikelihood of an indoor jade plant blooming. Unfortunately, it is very hard to mimic a Crassula plant’s natural habitat indoors. This is why it is rare for a jade plant to flower while inside.
Outdoor jade plants, however, can most certainly bloom!
But how to make a jade plant bloom? There are lots of factors that go into making a jade plant bloom, such as watering, dormancy, location, temperature, and sunlight.
Have a Correct Watering Schedule to Encourage Bloom
Everyone knows that succulents are prone to overwatering. Due to their natural desert environment, a jade plant’s leaves can store water for long periods of time. This means that they don’t need watering very often. In fact, you should wait for the soil to become completely dry before you think about giving your plant a drink!
Both overwatering and underwatering can affect the root system. This means that your jade plant won’t be able to absorb as many of the nutrients and energy it needs to produce buds.
Ensuring you have a good watering schedule is vital to making a jade plant bloom.
| Also read: Jade Plant Leaves Dropping |
Dormancy Will Make a Jade Plant Bloom
Although jade plants don’t officially enter a state of dormancy, they do require a rest period before the buds appear.
In the fall and winter, you will definitely notice a slow or pause in growth. During this time, your jade plant will need watering a lot less than in the summer months, when growing will begin again.
As the days become shorter, you should water less frequently and not fertilize. Although fertilizing just before the growing season is healthy, fertilizing when the plant is dormant will actually cause more damage than good.
The combination of shorter days and infrequent watering will help encourage bloom.
Location Will Depend on How Often a Jade Plant Blooms
As mentioned above, it is rare that an indoor jade plant will bloom. So if you’re asking yourself, ‘do jade plants bloom?’, and you have it located indoors, the answer is probably no.
Even if you have it placed by a window, the chances are it just won’t get enough sunlight for the plant to reach its full flowering potential. If you have your jade plant outdoors, then it should be in a brightly lit place in the garden where it can get a lot of sunlight.
Typically, if you live in an area that is cold, then your jade plant will not bloom. It needs to be in a living condition that mimics its natural habitat.
Jade plants are native to South Africa and Mozambique, meaning they are used to extreme temperatures and little rainfall. If you live in a cold area of the world, then your jade plant will never be able to fully thrive. Although very adaptable to different environments and locations, it will be healthy and happy, but you shouldn’t expect a jade plant to flower.
Temperature Will Affect How Often Jade Plants Bloom
When asking yourself, ‘do jade plants bloom?’ You must consider temperature as a deciding factor. As mentioned above, jade plants are native to South Africa, meaning they thrive in hot climates.
As jade plants bloom in late winter or early spring, you should be keeping your plant in a climate of 60 degrees F. (12 C.) during this time. This will help prompt the buds to appear.
A jade plant should never be exposed to freezing temperatures.
Sunlight Will Make Jade Plants Flower
Finally, and most importantly, sunlight will make a jade plant flower! Typically, a jade plant enjoys 4–6 hours of sunlight a day. This is why it is so difficult to make an indoor jade plant flower.
Make sure your outdoor jade plant is placed somewhere that gets sunlight for the most part of the day.
If your jade plant blooms, then you have found the perfect location!
For ages I was asking myself, ‘do jade plants bloom?’ and it was because I really struggled with finding an area that allowed for enough sunlight.
I have a lot of indoor jade plants that are healthy and beautiful, but I have never gotten them to flower. Even when placed in a south-facing window, it doesn’t seem to happen.
The most successful I’ve been with a flowering jade plant is when it has been placed in my garden, in a well-lit area. I also make sure that I water less frequently in the winter months and keep it at a controlled temperature.
Do Jade Plants Bloom? A Conclusion
I hope you have enjoyed reading this article and are now well informed on whether or not a jade plant blooms! We have touched upon many factors that will affect how often jade plants flower and I have given guidance on how to make a jade plant bloom. These being:
- Having a correct watering schedule
- Dormancy will encourage bloom
- Location will depend on your jade plant flowering
- Temperature will affect how often a jade plant blooms
- Sunlight will force a jade plant to bloom
I also talked about when jade plants bloom, and this is in the late winter or early spring. It is also important to remember that the likelihood of getting an indoor jade plant to bloom is very low. Outdoor jade plants have to reach full maturity before they can flower.
